THE MEERKAT

Photograph by HA!

The amusing and highly sociable meerkat is a native to the scrub-lands and deserts of southern Africa.
They live in large colonies with 20 or 30 members in a complex co-operative society that has led them to be described as the most sociable animal on earth.
It is a popular belief in some regions of Africa that the meerkat is a "sun angel" sent by the gods to protect villages, straying cattle and lone tribesmen from the "moon devil" or werewolf. It is also believed by the Bushmen of the region  to be the first animal created by their god.